The recent 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, which took place on Thursday, July 16, marked a significant moment in diplomatic relations between Rabat and Paris with the signing of 14 pivotal agreements. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited Morocco for this occasion, where he was welcomed by his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch, prior to addressing the media in a press statement.
In his address, Lecornu emphasized the importance of this meeting, convened at the behest of King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighting its purpose to ensure that the commitments made during President Macron's state visit to Morocco in October 2024 are meticulously honored. The French Prime Minister articulated the dual objectives of the meeting: not only to uphold prior commitments but also to explore and cultivate new projects that would benefit both nations, reinforcing the exceptional partnership that exists between them.
Broad Spectrum of Collaborative Agreements
The agreements ratified during this meeting reflect an ambitious vision for cooperation across various sectors. Among them is a letter of intent focused on feminist foreign policy collaboration, an annex to the technical arrangement concerning civil aviation, and a partnership between France's École nationale supérieure maritime (ENSM) and Morocco's Institut supérieur d'études maritimes (ISEM). Additionally, two loan agreements from the French Development Agency (AFD) were signed to bolster the Rabat RER project and enhance Morocco's water management policies.
Further agreements included a declaration of intent regarding the teaching of Arabic language and history-geography within the French educational framework, a strategic partnership between the Arab World Institute and Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, and a framework agreement for scientific cooperation between CIRAD and the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (IAV). The collaboration extended to the signing of a cooperation agreement between Groupe La Poste and Barid Al Maghrib, as well as a framework partnership involving CEREMA and LPEE. Moreover, letters of intent were established concerning artist residencies and Morocco's role in the Fund for African Authors and Producers, in addition to defining the terms of reference for a bilateral defense industry committee and a technical arrangement addressing military archives.
Milestone in Bilateral Cooperation
This gathering, the first of its kind since 2019, significantly enhances the framework of bilateral cooperation, building upon the momentum initiated by Emmanuel Macron's 2024 state visit to Rabat, which had previously resulted in the signing of 22 agreements and the establishment of the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Akhannouch engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Lecornu, accompanied by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and the ambassadors of both countries, further solidifying the diplomatic ties between Morocco and France.
Akhannouch noted that the High-Level Meeting serves as an essential governmental mechanism for monitoring and guiding the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership, while also evaluating the progress made in fulfilling the commitments established by the leaders of both nations. He underscored that the renewed vigor in bilateral relations is also deeply rooted in France's historical recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara.
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
